"Grace-Based Salvation" - #383

The JCSM Study Center

America's Christian Foundation

Skeptic's Annotated Bible: Corrected and Explained

NKJV Web Hosting and Services

JCSM's Sermons, Debates and the Bible on MP3

The Online Christ-Centered Ministries

The JCSM Chat Room

Seminary Notes and Papers

The Picturesque Photo Albums

Hello!

I pray you had a great weekend.

Congratulations to George W. Bush for winning the presidential election.  Let's pray that he makes wise decisions for our country.  Let's also pray that biblical values and the gospel can continue to permeate the United States and the world.

Right now, I'm seeking a web hosting company to host JCSM's web pages and files.  We have about 2GB of files and use about 40GB of bandwidth each month.  If you have a company and want to discuss hosting JCSM, please email me as soon as possible.

We pray that you are blessed as you follow Jesus Christ.  Ask Him to lift You up and bless you and He will.  He is faithful.

Phil Wickham is playing worship at Maranatha Chapel this Wednesday.  We'll be there getting fed, so come and be blessed!

Several of my friends just returned from a quick missions trip in Arizona.  They were doing street evangelism and telling people about the new Rock church in Phoenix.  I'm looking forward to meeting with one of my friends this week and hearing about his experiences.

Would you like a daily dose of godly wisdom?  Click http://jcsm.org/Wisdom.htm for JCSM's Quote of the Day!

Do you need a free email account?  JCSM offers free and inexpensive accounts through our BelieveandRepent.com domain name.  We give more space than Yahoo and Hotmail, plus you can use our service and evangelize without saying a word!  See http://believeandrepent.com for details.

This is your ministry, so please feel free to link to JCSM and forward these devotions to your friends and family.  On JCSM, there are over 70,000 web pages of pictures, forums, midis, Bible lessons, humor, proverbial stories, links, devotions, poetry, prayer journals, and much more!

JCSM has encouraging sermons, exciting debates, and the Bible on MP3 online and you can freely stream and download them!  Come and listen at http://sa.jcsm.org.

Visit the JCSM Study Center!  We have over 1GB of resources like English and foreign Bibles, thousands of sermons, maps, ancient literature, commentaries, Greek and Hebrew dictionaries, and concordances and much more!  Plus, it's all free.  Link: http://study.jcsm.org.

Welcome to the new readers of this message!  Here is your Devotion, A Moment of Introspection, JCSM's Challenge, the Word of the Week, a faith-builder from "The Skeptic's Annotated Bible: Corrected and Explained," and the Quotes of the Week.  Have a fantastic week and God bless you!

Love in Christ,

Jason Gastrich

Contact Us: http://jcsm.org/contact.php

JCSM's Weekly Devotions (click here to listen!)

"Grace-Based Salvation"

Ephesians 2:8, 9  "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast."

Romans 3:23, 24  "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus."

2 Timothy 1:9, 10  "(He) has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel."

Titus 2:11-14  "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works."

Insight: Salvation is given to humankind by God's grace.  We repent from our sins, have faith and trust Him, and we are saved by His wonderful grace.  Don't believe that you can work your way to Heaven.  This tarnishes God's gift of salvation because nobody is good enough to earn it.

Prayer: "Dear Lord, thank you for giving us the gift of salvation.  Thank you for giving us a grace-based gospel and not a works-based one.  Help people to be free from the sin of trying to be good enough for salvation.  We are not good enough and we never will be.  We need You and your love and grace, Lord.  Bless us and lift us up.  Forgive our sins.  Help us to see You as You are.  Increase our faith and love, Lord.  We love You.  In Jesus' name, Amen."

America's Foundation

The Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World July 4, 1884, was given by the nation of France to the United States as a symbol of friendship between the two nations.  The Statue of Liberty has since become a symbol of freedom throughout the world.  The largest of its kind, the statue weighs 450,000 pounds and stands 305 feet above the base of the pedestal.  Conceived by Edouard de Laboulaye and built over a steel structure built by Gustave Eiffel, the Statue was sculpted by the French sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi.

Bartholdi wrote:

"The statue was born for this place which inspired its conception.  May God be pleased to bless my efforts and my work, and to crown it with success, the duration and the moral influence which it ought to have."  - Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, sculptor, The Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World (New York: North American Review, Published for the benefit of the Pedestal Fund, 1885).  Catherine Millard, The Rewriting of America's History (Camp Hill, PA: Horizon House Publishers, 1991), p. 329.

On October 28, 1886, the inauguration ceremony of the Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World was begun with a prayer by Reverend Richard S. Storrs, D.D.:

"Almighty God, our Heavenly Father, who art of infinite majesty and mercy, by whose counsel and might the courses of the worlds are wisely ordained and irresistibly established, yet who takest thought of the children of men, and to whom our homage in all our works is justly due: We bless and praise Thee....

"It is in Thy favor, and through the operation of the Gospel of Thy grace, that cities stand in quiet prosperity; that peaceful commerce covers the seas....

"We pray that the Liberty which it represents may continue to enlighten with beneficent instruction, and to bless with majestic and wide benediction, the nations which have part in this work of renown....

"We pray for all the nations of the earth; that in equity and charity their sure foundations may be established; that in piety and wisdom they may find a true welfare, in obedience to Thee, glory and praise; and that, in all the enlargements of their power, they may be ever the joyful servants of Him to whose holy dominion and kingdom shall be no end...."  - October 28, 1886, prayer by Reverend Richard S. Storrs, D.D. opening the inauguration ceremony.  Inauguration of the Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World, by the President of the United States (New York: D. Appleton and Company, 1887), pp. 18-21.  Catherine Millard, The Rewriting of America's History (Camp Hill, PA: Horizon House Publishers, 1991), p. 330-331.

A Moment of Introspection

This week at church, Pastor Ray Bentley told everyone to write one sentence in their notes.  This sentence was: "I will make mistakes."  Can you write this sentence, too?  Are you able to admit that you will make mistakes?

Read through the New Testament.  You can read a chapter a day or you can read ten chapters a day.  It's up to you.  Just make a commitment to read through the whole New Testament and try and complete it as soon as you can.

I've started reading the New Testament and I'm in Matthew 4.  It has been exciting and I'm looking forward to my next chance to read the Word!

God bless you as you meet this week's challenge!

khar-ece (Greek, see Titus 2:11): graciousness (as gratifying), of manner of act (especially the divine influence on the heart, and its reflection in the life; including gratitude), acceptable, benefit, favor, gift, grace

The Skeptic's Annotated Bible: Corrected and Explained

"The Skeptic's Annotated Bible" claims:

Genesis 17:24 - Abram was 99 years old when he was circumcised. To commemorate this important event, God changes his name to Abraham.

"The Skeptic's Annotated Bible: Corrected and Explained" responds:

Abraham's name was changed in Genesis 17:5.  His name was changed because he was to be a father of many nations.  This prophecy was fulfilled.

(This explanation came from "The Skeptic's Annotated Bible: Corrected and Explained", by Jason Gastrich.  This book is on CD and explains over 3,000 difficulties regarding the entire Bible at http://www.skepticsannotatedbible.org.  There is also a 300 question workbook that accompanies the CD-ROM.)

If you understand where God's Spirit wants to lead you, you'll want Him to lead you.

The Holy Spirit helps you apply the scriptures to your life.

Being filled with the Holy Spirit is essentially the same as being filled with the Word of God.

God doesn't have to do miracles at our command or according to our own bidding.

Experience with following God's voice will help you to discern His voice better.

I will make mistakes.

When your efforts are fruitless, then your efforts are of yourself and not from God.

Let the will of God be in your heart.

Believers in Christ have had thoughts from Jesus in their minds.

The Lord has called us to heal the brokenhearted.

Hurt people hurt other people.

Be careful with your words.

Words can hurt more than a broken bone and they can take longer to heal.

The conversations of the world are words of the deaf.  They talk about their problems, fears, and worries and only think about what they will say while you're talking.

Listen to the Holy Spirit and be healed, then listen to and heal others.

Jesus listened to others, so do your very best to listen to Him and others.

The Holy Spirit glorifies Jesus and gives you insight into Him.

Many try and fill emptiness with busyness.

We can't take credit for God's gift of salvation.

You are the Artist's masterpiece.

The artist's dream is to reveal something in a special way.

These quotes came from God, me, and Ray Bentley.

Do you need more quotes?  We have thousands in our archives!  They are located here: http://quotes.jcsm.org.

These quotes can be used for sanctification and fun.  Most of them are directly based on scripture and scriptural principles.  Some of the quotes are humorous or rhetorical, others are written from sermons and Bible studies, and some are lyrics from songs.  If you’d like me to go into more detail on any of them, please email me.

Like most verses in the Bible, they can be debated.  To use what I’ve written in the most beneficial way, try and trace them back to the scriptures and apply the true principles to your life in a meaningful way!  Please don’t sell my quotes or publish them for profit.  If English is not your first language, you may not understand some of the quotes.  I'm sorry, but some of them are English metaphors and deal with multiple word meanings.  God bless you all!

Please make a commitment to pray for this ministry.  As every believer is tempted and tried, this ministry faces trials also.  God has blessed me, JCSM and the people who have been reached!  Unfortunately, the enemy knows this and spiritual warfare is the result.  Please at least pray that the devotions continue to be written religiously, the web pages stay on the www and the readers are blessed, sanctified and protected from evil.  Thank you very much in advance!

Do you want to help people receive the good news?  We’re reaching new people every day with God’s awesome Word!  If God has blessed you and you wish to send a love offering to JCSM, please send your gift to the address below.

You can join our vision and help this ministry!  Your donations will keep these ministries running and further our visions for evangelism.  We host tens of thousands of web pages to lead people to the Lord.  Frequently, we make new ones and they are used to bring more and more people into a closer relationship with Jesus Christ.

Would you like to support God’s work on the web?  If this ministry has touched you in a special way, please pray and consider sending a gift to JCSM.  You can join us in our vision to reach people on the web with the good news!  Either email me for more information or simply go here: http://vision.jcsm.org.

JCSM is a 501(c)(3), non-profit organization.  If you wish to send support, please make checks payable to Jesus Christ Saves Ministries.  If you are sending support or simply want to contact us through the regular mail, here is our mailing address:

Jesus Christ Saves Ministries

3219 Clairemont Mesa Blvd. #212

San Diego, CA 92117

Along with getting support, we also give support!  JCSM regularly gives to churches, Christian ministries, and needy people.  Another function of this ministry is to do counseling.  We are always answering questions about life, the Lord and everything in between.  Lastly, we do a lot of research on religious topics on the internet and library.  You will definitely see the results of our hard work and your loving support, in the web pages, and in the weekly devotions!

For more about me and my service history, go to http://jcsm.org/misc/JasonGastrich.htm.

If you have never repented from your sins and believed, trusted, and accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, please email me!  I would love to share the gospel with you.  The Bible is very straightforward when it speaks about Heaven, Hell and eternal life.  If there is any doubt that you are going to Heaven when you die, please let me know today!  If you’d like to discover the biblical doctrine of salvation through Jesus Christ, please go here: Audio Gospel Message - http://www.jcsm.org/godsplan/TheGospel.mp3. or the Textual Gospel Message - http://gospel.jcsm.org.

Fishes and Loaves (FALO) is a great, missions organization.  They have helped many people embark on missions trips to the uttermost parts of the world.  If you are interested in missions, please visit http://www.gofalo.net.

Do you need to find a solid, Christian church?  I've attended numerous, Calvary Chapel churches and I've been very blessed by their Bible-based sermons, inspiring worship, and kind members.  If you don't have a home church, if you're traveling, or if you need to find a new church, I recommend visiting the following site and locating a Calvary Chapel near you: http://www.calvarychapel.org.

OCCM (Online Christ-Centered Ministries) has certified JCSM as a ministry that preaches the true, biblical gospel of Jesus Christ.  OCCM is a professional membership association for Christian ministries and people that reside on and off the internet.  Are you OCCM certified?  For more information, go here: http://www.occm.org.

Over 70,000 web pages!

Jesus loves you!

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever should believe in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."